The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-25
The ARKANSAS RIVER.
THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN
DONE ON II
Aud What Remains Unfinished
The st. Francis TO Be At.
tended to Soon.
ESPECIAL TO THE APPEAL.l

WASHINGTON, April 24.-Capt. H.
s Taber, in charge Of the improve.
ments in Arkansas rivers, in his re-
port upon the work Of improving Red
river, above Fulton, Ark, for the
month OF March, says that the new
land propelled snagblat was success
fully launched March 18th and ramed
Harry Brock. The expectations
formed In regard to it's economical
work have been so far realized. Ex-
cepting the machinery, it is expected
that the boat will be completed early
in April. Work will then be susperd d.
ed except when the machinery arrives
until such time ss the river reaches
low water, the stage at which Elective
snsGging can be done. Briefly de.
scribed, the snsgbost ia q strongly
built decked scow, drawing about
twelve inches of water, supplied with
powerful steam capstan, par OF
shears and other appliances for re-
moving distractions, having broad
bow and three arches in her hull, 30
as to give her great resistance when a
lifting strain is brought on her bows.
uC uDhJ has dlbO lLuUOdtlODb
the working party.
A dTaughtSma1 was engaged during
the month compiling the maps of the
survey OF the Arkansas river from Lit
tie Rock to its mou'h. During April
his work will be continued, but no
other work except that necessary to
care for the property and the records
is contemplated for lack of funds.
The completed work at Fort Smith is
1889 feet long and has bsen executed
economically and is a model of
thorough construction work and
credit to the assistant engineer in i'm.
mediate charge, W. L. Killebrew.
In the work upon the st. Francis
river, Arkansas, it is proposed to take
the snagboat to S Franco and bPgin-
ming there open The river toward the
cut of near KenEeti, Mo. The
sloughs that now operate to reduce the
water in the main channel bstween
St. Francis aud Kennett will be closed
as they are reached and the snsgs and
logs taken from the main channel.
The outnt is well equipped aud es.
pecially well msnned and it is ex
pected that excellent work will be
done. A trip to this n ach will be
made during April to settle the matter
OF which is more worthy OF improve.
ment, the "cut off" or the old river.
Nothing is proposed to be done during
April on the Fourche LIE Fevre, Black,
Little Red and Saliue rivers for
lack of funds. II the water in the
White river reaches an effective work
ing etage in April the work of erect.
ing wing dams will be carried on by
dropping the outfit down, as last sea-
eon, without having to resort to steam
power. Some snsgging operations
may be required in the lower river
later on. In regard to the works on
the Petit Jean river, it Ia now believed
that this appropriation will put the
river in very good shape for high and
medium stage of navigation as high as
Rocky Crossing and perhaps higher.
II having been found that the trees
whose limbs interfered with the
smokestacks if cut generally fall into
the stream and make as formidable an
obstacle as before, few men were
picked and provided with creepers
similar to those used by linemen Of
the Western Union Telegraph Oompa-
ny. These men have done most ex-
cellent service, and there has been
nearly double the amount OF river ef-
fectively opened that could have been
done by the method of telling the
trees and cutting them up.